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Carers

There are close to 500,000 carers in Queensland who support family and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail aged. Carers make a valuable and important contribution to our community by supporting people with a need for assistance.

On average, primary carers spend approximately 40 hours per week providing care. Without respite or additional support, many carers find it difficult to take a break from their caring role. Grandparents can also be carers where they are the primary caregivers and decision makers for their grandchildren who live with them, assuming a parenting role for a second time.

Carers come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and all parts of the state.

Carers can face challenges as part of their caring role, including education, employment, financial, social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

People may not always want to reveal their caring role to others. Community attitudes sometimes associated with disability, mental illness and caring may prevent carers from disclosing their caring role. Many carers may also see their caring role as a personal responsibility they have within their extended family and community.

You can find many resources, information and support on the Australian Government's Carer Gateway website.

This section provides useful information for carers including current news, resources and legislation.

Queensland Government media release Some of Queensland’s most vulnerable children are a step closer to forever homes with the introduction of new legislation into Parliament. Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said reforms to the Child Protection Act 1999 will require permanency planning to...

More Queenslanders are needed to help vulnerable children stay safe so they can reach their full potential, by signing up to become a foster carer. Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman encouraged all Queenslanders to think about opening their hearts and homes to children in need across the state...

Foster and Kinship Carer Week will be held from 24 to 30 April 2017. It will be a celebration of the dedication and commitment of Queensland's foster and kinship carers who provide children and young people with a safe, loving and stable home. There are currently more than 5,300 carer families in...

Media Statement Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence The Honourable Shannon Fentiman Financial assistance is now available for south-east Queensland’s not-for-profit organisations that have been affected...

Queensland Government media release The future is looking bright for 50 young Queensland women who are receiving scholarships funded by the Palaszczuk Government. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Care2Achieve scholarships, delivered in partnership with The Smith Family, would provide young...

Carers Link Holiday Care Program provides group supported accommodation for people with disability, in holiday apartments across Brisbane, Bribie Island, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. This program allows families and clients to access valuable respite, and can be booked throughout holiday...

Not-for-profit Law has updated its guide to 'The laws of advertising and your community organisation'. The resource provides practical tips to help organisations comply with the laws of advertising and marketing in Australia. Importantly, these laws apply to many fundraising activities of charities...

This publication from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) presents information from the 2015 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC). Disability The disability prevalence rate in Australia has remained relatively stable over time, with 18.3 per cent of people reporting disability in 2015,...

MS Queensland has led the collaboration of 11 Progressive Neurological Disease organisations, called The NeuroCare Network - we are working together to provide better outcomes for Queenslanders living with progressive neurological and neuromuscular disease. The NeuroCare Network is hosting a Q&...

In 2016, The Smith Family received important funding from the Queensland Government which has enabled it to expand its existing Learning for Life Tertiary Scholarship Scheme and create the Care2Achieve Scholarship for Young Women Leaving Care . The Care2Achieve Scholarship is for young women moving...